 Are we ready for H1N1 "Worst Case Scenario"? HRH Crown Prince calls on all parties to be prepared to face any eventuality. HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince [pic inset: Infofoto] and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday questioned the country's preparedness with regards to the recent spread of Influenza A (H1N1), calling for all parties to be ready for the "worst-case scenario".
In the sabda made prior to the National Disaster Council Meeting at the Fire and Rescue Department headquarters, His Royal Highness said that even though we may feel that the situation is under control at the moment, we must be prepared for any eventuality, especially since no proven prevention measure, such as an effective vaccine, has been found yet.
"Are we prepared to face a sudden increase in infections (cases), which is much more than (initially) projected?" His Royal Highness asked. "What steps have been planned if the virus mutates and has greater potential to cause deaths?
"Do we have the logistical capacity and sufficient manpower to implement a mass quarantine?" His Royal Highness added.
These are the questions that we should be asking and contemplating, to which the answers will require the input, ideas and understanding of all the relevant agencies, His Royal Highness said. [Click here to read more on Ubaidillah Masli's article in The Brunei Times]
Catch DPMM FC vs Balestier tonight. Last home game only had 5,000 crowd and I don't expect the crowd to reach the 8,000 mark as it usually does. Perhaps the H1N1 flu cases have been affecting the attendance level in the stadium. Nonetheless the show must go on and DPMM FC is in a must-win against bottom team Balestier.
A win will put DPMM FC back in contention for the S.Leagu title. Currently Gombak United is leading the pack, followed by SAF FC. DPMM FC will be without the services of Ivan Jerkovic (injury for a month) and Azwan Salleh aka Param (suspension). Simunic will be playing Oh Dogg Yi and Hardi Bujang in the starting line up.
So catch DPMM FC vs Balestier tonight at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium at 8:15pm tonight.
Rene Komar and Pg Waslimin after light training yesterday
Sultan Cup this July. The Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) will be organising the Sultan Cup in conjunction with the 63rd birthday celebrations of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam starting on July 18 at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat.
The aim of the tournament is to promote basketball in the country. It is open to players with a valid Brunei identity card. "Usually we have around 16 to 20 teams joining in the tournament so we are expecting around the same number this year," said Lim Fung, BBA secretary.
Registration forms can be obtained from the Brunei Basketball Association Court. Completed forms with registration fees of $300 for the men's category and $200 for the women's category can be sent to the organising committee at the same venue before or on July 10.
For more information, please call Mr Soon at 8770316.
At the mean time, my Ranoadidas ladies team will be participating in this tournament for the third year running. The ladies have been training lately to be fit for the upcoming tournament. However, we will be missing Wande (left Brunei) and the Rai sisters (left Brunei) and our centre Raaufah (injury). But we have a few back up players and I do hope this year that the ladies' team will be competitive.
Annabelle wins You've Got Talent competition. Last Monday, 14 year old Annabelle Pei Pei beat a good list of finalists brought to you by B-Mobile Communications. The event was also co-sponsored by HSBC. I notice that the dancers didn't have what it takes to overcome the talents of the singers. Rhythm Fusion were the best dancers of the day but only managed to grab fourth place.
Third place of the competition went to Louise Ann Kendrew and second place went to local band Magabu and I thought they were pretty good. And as usual, Annabelle, one of the top performers in Kristal Idol, stole the show with a cover version of "I will always love you".
They failed to make the top four
Zura talking to the judges
Louise Ann Kendrew pulled off a great song
Rhythm Fusion the best among the dancers
This guy was pretty courageous
Annabelle winning the "You've Got Talent" Competition
Cyclists sweat it out in HSBC Challenge. A total of 350 cyclists sweated it out under the scorching sun for the second Heart of Borneo Challenge 2009 yesterday morning. More than 20 HSBC staff and over 200 individuals including 20 cyclists from the neighbouring country, Miri, participated in the challenge.
The guest of honour was Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary resources who also took part and led the cyclists during the challenge.
The cycling event began and finished at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah complex. The throngs of cyclists took off at 7am and ended at 2.30pm where the participants traveled more than 120 kilometres all the way to Bukit Beruang, Tutong before returning to the finishing line.
In an interview with Mr Lim Boon Teck, the Manager Corporate Sustainability of HSBC, he stated that the response for the Heart of Borneo challenge was good, "almost all of the participants have made it to the finishing line despite the hot weather".
He also said the aim of the Heart of Borneo Challenge is as a platform to raise awareness among Bruneians on conservation initiatives and to adopt a lower-carbon emission lifestyle."We hoped the public will give their full support for our initiatives in energy conservation and reducing the climate change therefore saving our environment."
The HSBC Heart of Borneo Challenge aimed at raising funds towards establishing a 25ha field study plot at Kuala Belalong Field Study Centre in Temburong. The 25ha research plot will likely include over 1000 species of trees which is more than the forest in all of North America or Europe.
The money raised from the Heart of Borneo challenge will proceed to a research project fund for scientists in helping progress further in monitoring the impact of climate change on the forests of Brunei and vice versa.
Over US$ 330, 700 is required to help carry out this project reach its goal, thus HSBC is fully committed to contribute their support and commitment in making this project successful. [Borneo Bulletin, Farah Ahmadnawi]
42 cases so far at press time. The Ministry of Health has confirmed 10 new cases of Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total in the country to 42 cases.
* The 33rd case is a 22-year-old female who just returned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
* The 34th case is a 25-year-old female who just returned from Singapore.
*The 35th case is a 29-year-old female who just returned from the Philippines.
* The 36th case is a 14-year-old male
* The 37th case is a 22-year-old female
* The 38th case is a 38-year-old female
* The 39th case is a 15-year-old male
* The 40th case is a 9-year-old male
* The 41st case is a male
* The 42nd case is a 10-year-old female
All these cases, are still being investigated and undergoing treatment, and are in good condition. The Ministry of Health wishes to inform the public, that at present, out of the 42 confirmed cases, a total number of 233 close contacts, needed to be quarantined for 7 days. Out of the 233 close contacts, 38 are no longer in quarantine. These contacts do not have symptoms. However, due to their exposure to the cases, needs to be isolated and given tamiflu for preventive treatment. A majority of these contacts are quarantined in their own respective homes.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes the importance of the public’s social responsibility in preventing Influenza A (H1N1), therefore it is urged that the Government Departments, supermarkets, shopping centers, cinemas and the like to provide, disease prevention facilities for public use, especially hand washing facilities equipped with soap dispensers, along with gel/liquid sanitizers at all entry points.
In safeguarding the public’s safety, the Ministry of Health, continues to advise the public, who have recently returned from affected countries, within the past 7 days and having symptoms, to seek immediate medical attention. It is also advisable to reduce social activities and crowded places such as:
* Community gatherings
* Shopping centers
* Markets
* Stalls
* Restaurants
* Cinemas
* Swimming pools and the like
For further enquiries and information, the public can contact the Healthline 145 during office hours and 8220991 during none working hours.
Anyway, there was a fatality case of the celebrity due to the swine flu.
Now we all know who gave it to Kermit ;)
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